Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Ryan discovers the camera never lies...

Early rising = One coffee

It's my first day training as a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Blast reporter - the next step on the road to becoming a journalist. I've got my ABC and now it's time to complete my Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ! Motivated to get going, I'm up earlier than the worms. I say worms because if I was a worm I would definitely be up and out long before that early bird character.ΜύΜύ

It is 5.00 am, a side of the world previously unseen. I say "Hi" to the milkman and stroll to the bus stop listening to the birds (not the band, people, but those fluffy little chirping things featured on Springwatch). The time is certainly alien to me, but if this is what it takes to infiltrate the Beeb then bring it on...

The 2008 Blast recruits!

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Blast = Two coffees

So this is it. I have been lucky enough to join the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Blast scheme which means for the next eight weeks I will be your first point of call or all things arty in West Yorkshire. I'm heading to the train station now to meet my mentor and head to Bristol for my training.ΜύI'm both nervous and excited, but I'm not sure if that's just the coffee kicking in.

The train down = At least three more coffees

I spend the journey down trying out ideas with my mentor, Christine, and surprisingly she likes the majority. However, my plan for an expenses paid trip to South America to research Mayan sculptures is apparently out of the question...

I'm pretty sure Christine is taking my coffee-fuelled rants as boyish enthusiasm and we cover many issues including the plans for Ryan's Rant.ΜύRyan's Rant will be coming in my next diary and will be my vent for all things wrong in the art world.

Training = Too much coffee, six-and-a-half at a guess

By the time we arrive in Bristol I'm on a massive coffee comedown and wonder how I will make it through the day. This question is soon answered when I realise there will be no time to be tired. For the first hour I meet all the other Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Blast reporters and the staff running the scheme, all of whom are very nice.

The rest of the day is spent learning interview techniques and camera skills. The photography lesson seemed to unleash a beast within, so expect some interesting photos, people!

Day Two = I'm avoiding coffee

More of the same for today except I'm now on apple juice. We are all up early and begin the second day's training.ΜύToday my group covers CMS, the program used for uploading content to the web, working for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, and a look at the ethics involved with being a journalist. The one thing that is plaguing me is that I'm starting to feel rather strange. I must visit the doctor when I get a chance.

P.S:Μύ I visited the Doc and he says I have contracted a mild form of Blast-itis. He told me not to worry, saying that it would pass in about eight weeks. He prescribed the only thing he said would help - a pen and paper - telling me to, "Write boy, write..."